NOVATO CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
901 SHERMAN AVENUE
NOVATO, CA 94945
March 25, 2025 – 6:00 PM
A. CONVENE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m., with Mayor O’Connor leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tim O’Connor, Mayor Pro Tempore Rachel Farac, Councilmember Pat Eklund, Councilmember Kevin Jacobs, and Councilmember Mark Milberg
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amy Cunningham, Police Chief Jim Naugle, Community Development Director Clare Hartman, Interim Public Works Director Tim Burke, Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff, Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado, Management Analyst I Miguel Perez, City Attorney Gary Bell and City Clerk Laura McDowall
B. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
The City Council met in Closed Session prior to the open session; there was nothing to report out.
C. CEREMONIAL MATTERS/PRESENTATIONS
C.1. Proclamation - Recognizing Ross Millerick
Ross Millerick was present to accept the proclamation.
C.2. Police Department Annual Report
Police Chief Jim Naugle presented the Annual Report.
D. APPROVAL OF THE FINAL AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Final Agenda.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
E. REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL & CITY MANAGER
City Manager Cunningham reported on various City matters and the City Council gave reports on meetings and events they had attended.
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. John Hansen
2. Carol Joy-Harris
3. Bill Davis
4. Dale Kline
5. Imee Harsuvanakit
6. Honor Henningsen
7. Mike Little
8. Joakim Osthus
9. Emily Larsen
10. Casey Ward
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Mayor Pro Tem Farac and seconded by Councilmember Eklund the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to approve the Consent Calendar.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
G.1. Waive reading and authorize introductions and/or adoption of ordinances by title only this was a standard procedural action so that the City Council did not have to read ordinances aloud in their entirety.
G.2. Approve the City Council closed and open session meeting minutes of March 11, 2025
The City Council approved the closed and open session meeting minutes of March 11, 2025.
G.3. Adopt ordinance 1723 amending Chapter XIX (Zoning) of the Novato Municipal Code regarding emergency shelters, community care facilities, residential care facilities for the elderly, and alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities, and finding the amendments to be exempt from additional California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 and Section 15061(b)(3) The City Council adopted Ordinance 1723.
G.4. Approve seven artist selections for the Downtown Utility Box Art Program led by Leadership Novato Class of 2025 Team Big Rock Ridge, as recommended by the Recreation, Cultural and Community Services Advisory Commission
The City Council approved the artist selections.
G.5. Adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the Ground Lease Agreement with Vero West 103 LLC for the lease of a portion of the City property located at 501 Davidson Street The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-024.
G.6. Adopt a resolution approving the plans and specifications for the 2025 Annual Pavement Rehabilitation project (CIP 25-001) with the exception of the striping plan for Grant Avenue, authorizing bid advertisement, and finding that the project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities
The City Council adopted Resolution No.2025-025.
G.7. Adopt a resolution awarding the construction contract for the Margaret Todd Senior Center Roof Replacement and the Downtown Recreation Center/Novato Gymnastics Center Roof Replacement Project (CIP Project Nos. 19-006 and 24-004), for the Base Bid of $753,900, and bid alternatives and a 20% contingency in the amount of $1,110,030 to Diablo Roofing Inc. as the lowest responsible bidder, and authorize the City Manager, or his/her designee, to execute the construction contract, contingent upon approval of the midyear budget adjustments which requests an increase to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget in the amount of $200,000 The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-026.
H. UNFINISHED AND OTHER BUSINESS
There were no items listed for this section.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no items listed for this section.
J. GENERAL BUSINESS
J.1. Receive the Community Development Department’s Service Improvements Phase 2 March 2025 report regarding actions taken in response to the Building Division Organization Assessment report prepared by Baker Tilly US, LLC in March 2024
Community Development Director Clare Hartman and Management Analyst I Miguel Perez gave the presentation and responded to Council questions.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Eklund and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Farac the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to accept the report.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried.
The City Council took a recess at 8:06 p.m. and returned at 8:17 p.m.
J.2. Receive a presentation from the Public Works Department regarding the development of a construction management plan (CMP) policy for private developments and provide direction to staff on applicability and next steps Interim Public Works Director Tim Burke gave the presentation and received feedback from the City Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
It was clarified that the draft policy for construction management plans would return to Council for further discussion and approval at a future date.
J.3. Receive a presentation and consider adopting a resolution amending the City of Novato Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2024/25 and direct the City Manager to take actions necessary to enact approved budget modifications
Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff presented the item along with Principal Management Analyst Jennifer Maldonado.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
COUNCIL ACTION: Upon motion by Councilmember Milberg and seconded by Councilmember Eklund, the City Council voted 5-0 via roll call to adopt the resolution amending the City of Novato Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2024/25 and directing the City Manager to take actions necessary to enact approved budget modifications.
AYES: EKLUND, JACOBS, MILBERG, FARAC, O’CONNOR
NOES: NONE
Motion carried. The City Council adopted Resolution No.2025-027.
K. COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS (CCB’S) APPOINTMENTS There were no items for this section.
L. WORK STUDY SESSION
There were no items for this section
M. ADJOURNMENT
The City Council adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and adopted at the Novato City Council regular meeting of April 8, 2025.
/Laura McDowall/
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Laura McDowall, City Clerk